THE KIDS AREN'T ALRIGHT ｡ STRANGER THINGS

18 - DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

"Okay," Her voice sounded so quiet, but weirdly, she trusted Nancy Wheeler. Maybe it was because both girls knew Nancy was more than capable of fighting back these days, or because the heavy crush on the pretty straight girl made Dottie's mind blurry and her heart ache for something that was impossible.

***

When Dottie Fields finally arrived home, her mind a complete mess, she found an unfamiliar car parked outside her house. Quickly, she was cutting the engine and hurrying across the dry grass towards her best friend and Steve Harrington. Without thinking, she pulled Daisy Lonsdale in for a hug, squeezing her eyes tightly shut. She had not expected Dottie and Steve to be waiting on her front porch steps in the dark for her, but she was sure glad they were. After a heartfelt greeting, she let Daisy say her goodbyes to the boy before dragging her inside.

"Dottie, what's going on? You're shaking like a leaf."

"Do you want some tea?" Dottie asked abruptly, heading towards the kitchen that was doused in soft light. Her best friend followed behind, dumping her bag on one of the dining room chairs. "Tea sounds really good right about now."

Daisy glanced out the kitchen windows, the darkness stirring outside. "Where are your parents? Where's Micky for that matter? I thought you were going to try and talk to him about everything today? You know, try and get some more explanations."

Although there was a storm raging on inside Dottie's mind, her features calmed when the kettle started boiling. She dropped to a seat, her hands folding and unfolding upon the table. "Micky's with his friends and Hopper. Also, Nancy and the Byers." Daisy's forehead was already creasing with confusion. "It's a really long story. But right now, they'll be at Hawkins Middle School trying some weird experiment with Eleven to try and find Will and Barbara because they're stuck in the Upside Down."

"You realise most of that means nothing to me, right?" Daisy blurted out, realising that her best friend's day had been far more interesting than her own. Apparently, both girls days had panned out very differently. "What's the Upside Down? Who's Eleven? Is that the girl with powers the boys have been hiding for days now?"

When the kettle finally rang, hot steam rising into the air, the story was finally over. Dottie had replayed her entire day, not missing out a single thing. She told her best friend about following the boys, about the junkyard, about Hopper and Joyce, and the flea and the acrobat and about the plan to find Will and Barbara with a salt water bath. Daisy had listened quietly, doing her best to come to terms with everything. While that new information sunk in, Dottie got up from her chair to fetch the kettle and pour them both some hot tea. "I know, it's a lot to take in but, it's the honest to God truth, no matter how crazy it sounds. Anyway, how was your day?"

Daisy almost laughed. "Not nearly as entertaining."

Dottie smiled weakly. "Did you at least speak with Hopper about Marigold?"

With a cup of tea warming her hands, Daisy finally nodded her head. "Actually, yeah. It wasn't an overly long conversation but, I think he believes me now. Maybe when all this monster stuff is over, he might help me find her. Mind you, I don't think he's got a chance in hell if I can't figure out the clues."

"What are the clues again?"

Daisy was reaching for her bag and pulling out the small stack of clues her sister had left behind. She spaced out the items on the table; the note from her sketchbook, the cassette and the old copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. "Steve's got the key we found in the book because he's a jerk, but yeah, that's everything."

Dottie glanced over the objects, nothing jumping to her mind. Honestly, she knew her best friend was trying to link the mystery with the current events in Hawkins, but right now, nothing fit into the puzzle. Pursing her lips, she grabbed the novel and flipped through the first few pages. "You both loved this book so much," She spoke quietly, remembering old memories. Her fingers stopped on the opening chapter of the story. "Marigold used to say she was Alice, remember? Because of that stupid rabbit hole near the oak tree out back. Wait a second...shit."

"What? What is it?" Daisy was already squeaking out and pulling the book from her friend's hands, reading the very same words she had. Nothing sparked in her mind though. It was just the opening chapter, nothing new. She had already combed the book for a hidden message but nothing had been found. "There's nothing here, Dottie. No new clue."

A smile was touching Dottie's lips. "You really don't see it?"

"See what?"

Without a question, Dottie was getting out of her chair and rumbling through one of the kitchen cabinets and found what she was looking for. With a proud nod of her head, she showed Daisy the flashlight in her hand. "Marigold didn't write a clue in the pages. Her clue was the book. Chapter one, actually. Down the rabbit hole."

Those four words were the spark that set a fire in Daisy Lonsdale's mind. Quickly, she was rushing towards the back door and stepping into the calm night air. Dottie followed behind, switching on the flashlight and running towards the massive oak tree out back. The tree loomed on the boarder of the two houses, the very thing that separated the Byers' house from the Fields' house. Actually, the tree technically was closer to the Byers' house if anything. But nevertheless, the oak tree was a happy memory where the girls used to play when they were much younger. Falling to her knees, her heart thumping loudly in her ears, Daisy started clawing at the dirt of the rabbit hole, hating herself for not realising it sooner. Within seconds, her hands were covered in dirt but it didn't matter because she was pulling a heavy metal box free. She was nearly crying with hope when Dottie flashed the light upon the metal box to show a lock and five words caved into the metal. The key to my heart.

"What does that mean?" Dottie breathed out at the exact same time the flashlight flickered out. Both girls paused in the total darkness, their eyes growing wide. Anybody would just assume the flashlight had flickered out because of dead batteries, but when they heard an all too familiar sound coming through the thick woods, they knew very well the monster was hunting them. "Run."